Electrolytical plant



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0; STALMANN. ELEGTROLYTIOAL PLANT.

N0 4 Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

WIT/YES SE6 MJJM 2 Shts Sheet (No Model.)

0. STALMANN. ELEGTROLYTIGAL PLANT.

Patented Jan. 19, 1892. w I i h Ma ena-'01P: mC/WW UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

OTTO STALMANN, OF ANACONDA, MONTANA.

ELEC TROLYTICAL PLANT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,350, dated January19, 1892.

Application filed June 8, 1891. Serial No. 895,568- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO STALMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Anaconda, county of Deer Lodge, and State of Montana, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Electrolytical Plants, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

My improvements consist in using an initial anode connected to thepositive pole of the source of current-supply and a terminal cathodeconnected to the negative pole of the source of currentsupply, andintermediate are a series of pairs of cathode and anode plates, coupledin pairs by a vertical connection. These two plates of each pair arebrought in close contact with each other, being only separable by a thinsheet of non-conducting material, as glass or asbestos. The anodeplatesare formed of the crude material to be refined, while the cathode-platesare formed of pure copper or some other pure metal.

I will now describe one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of electrolytic vat with platesin position. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a method of connectingplates. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of electrolytic vat with plates inposition.

A A are two wooden tanks, the tank A being smaller and placed within thetank A. The space between the tanks A and A is filled with material B,which is of such character as to prevent leaking, such as asphaltumcement or hydraulic cement. It is preferable that this material shouldbe an insulating material.

C O 0 &c., are the anode-plates, which are cast in molds, preferablyiron molds, and are provided with ears 0. A solution of sulphate ofcopper is placed in the vat or tank A, and the anode-plates aresuspended in the solution by means of the ears 0, which rest eitherdirectly on the sides of the vat or on a piece of rubber or wood or onany non-conducting material.

E E E are the cathode-plates, formed of thin plates of copper or othermetal, and these cathode-plates are also suspended in the liquid in thetank.

\Vith the exception of the initial anode and terminal cathode, the anodeand cathode plates are connected in pairs by bringing the two platestogether with a non-conducting surface between them and connecting themby one or more bolts or rivets 6, so that between a pair of anode andcathode plates there is no electrolytic solution.

f are spacing-pins, which are inserted between each pair of plates tokeep them from contact with each other and to cause the pairs of platesto retain proper position.

D is the dynamo, and the first anode-plate is connected to the positiveconductor H of said dynamo. The last cathode-plate is connected with thenegative conductor g from the dynamo.

As may be seen, the first anode-plate and the last cathode-plate standby themselves, while the intermediate cathode and anode plates areconnected together so as to form pairs. The object in connecting theseplates in pairs in the manner herein described is to prevent any actionbetween the cathode and anode of a pair through the medium of theelectrolytic solution.

The operation in refining copper is as follows: The anode-plates arecomposed of crude copper to be refined and the cathode-plates of purecopper or other metal. The current passes from the dynamo along thepositive conductor to the first anode-plate, with which said conductoris directly connected and decomposes the solution between'the firstanode and cathode plate which said current has to traverse, and depositsthe copper upon the cathode-plate, while sulphuric acid set freedissolves an equal amount of copper from the anode-plate as has beendeposited upon the cathode-plate. The current thus travels from -theanode-plate through the solution of sulhate of copper to thecathode-plate along of the same with the anode-plate to this anodeplate,and thence through the solution to the next cathode-plate, and so onuntil the last cathode-plate is reached, which plate is connected withthe negative conductor from the the cathode-plate and along theconnection 5 dynamo. The copper to be refined may conwith insulatingmaterial interposed between t-ain gold and silver, and this falls to thebotsaid plates and metallic connection between tom of the tank or vat ina highly concensaid plates.

trated state and may be collected as a by- Intestimonyofwhichinventionlhave here- 5 prpldnct without? eizlztrg exprignsle. Vunto set my hand.

ELVlng 110W [1 y GSOII e my lHVell 101], r v 1 what I claim as new, anddesire to protect by O F l O bl ALMANN Letters Patent, is- Witnesses:

An electrode consisting of a plate of re- THOMAS D. SIMPSON, m finedmaterial and a plate of crude material FRANK S. BUSSER.

